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Politics

Nation-states

The history of the modern Western nation-state is built on three founding monolithic mythologies; race and language and mythology itself. After the murderous disasters of the twentieth century, the race element has been happily downplayed, but it is still there as an unspoken assumption. In this model a real nation-state comprises these three elements and must have a singular face. The very idea of a nation-state intentionally built on ideas and a multiplicity of races, languages and myths doesn’t fit into the historic Western framework and therefore cannot be real. And yet what began to emerge in April 1839 was exactly that alternative model. – John Ralston Saul on the reform movement of the newly united Canadas

bin Laden

Late last night US President Obama announced the death of Osama bin Laden, a man wanted for the horrible, horrible crime of killing thousands in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. We all know this. President Obama said: So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when our people have been killed. We will be relentless in defence of our citizens and our friends and allies. We will be true to the values that make us who we are. And on nights like this one, we can say to those families who have lost… Read More »bin Laden

The Future of Canada

As you all know, on May 2nd Canadians will go to the polls and cast our votes for Canada’s 41st Parliament. We will send 308 Canadians to Ottawa to represent us in the House of Commons. An election should be a question of what do you want for Canada’s future? What course do you want to put the nation on? Where do we see our country over the next four years, and beyond? More importantly… What are our democratic principles? This election is not about the economy, this election is not about coalitions, this election is simply about what we as Canadians see as our democracy. Peter Russell puts it… Read More »The Future of Canada

Debating

I can’t believe coalitions are still being discussed. Liberal Party leader Michael Ignatieff categorically rejected the concept in his open letter on the first day of the campaign. However in last night’s debate, Conservative leader Stephen Harper decided that it wasn’t good enough, as Mr. Ignatieff pointed out that whoever wins the most seats, must then try to gain the support of parliament. Is Mr. Harper completely out of his mind? Does he have no understanding of our parliamentary democracy whatsoever, or is he just lying to the Canadian public? Every party that is asked to form government, whether it be a majority or a minority, must then ask for… Read More »Debating

Attack!

Last night during the Oscar broadcast, the Conservative Party of Canada ran this advertisement. I’ll let you watch it before we continue. I’m tired of these attack ads, but not because they’re rude and base-politics, but because it’s insulting to me specifically. The Conservatives are mocking the leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition for saying, “I wish my country were a little better.” I too wish my country were a little better, and it has nothing to do with who is leading our nation, it’s not a question of Harper vs. Ignatieff, it’s the simple fact that Canada is not, has never been, and will never be perfect, and so… Read More »Attack!

Responsible Government

Upper Canada fought long and hard for responsible government, leading ourselves away from the Family Compact which was governing the people of Upper Canada with only an image of elected officials. However, our government is still not perfect, and can be improved to be more democratic and representative to the people? Here’s some ideas: Corporations shouldn’t be allowed to donate to political parties. Clear and concise guidelines for the reserve powers of the Crown and how it can be implemented by the Governor General. Petitioning the Commonwealth to revise the Statute of Westminster to no longer show gender and religious precedence so that the Heads of State reflects the “Just… Read More »Responsible Government

A Message from W.L. Mackenzie

Politics is the science which teaches the people of a country to care for each other. If a mischievous individual were to attempt to cut off his neighbour’s hand, would that neighbour’s other hand and feet do well quietly to permit the amputation of the limb if they could hinder it? All will say, No. This then is politics. That part of our duty which teaches us to study the welfare of our whole country, and not to rest satisfied altho’ our own household is well off when our neighbours are in difficulty and danger. The honest politician is he who gives all he can of his time and means… Read More »A Message from W.L. Mackenzie

Mayor Staypuft

Okay, so Toronto chose the worst possible option for its mayor. I propose two things. 1) We, the people, the ones who own this city, the ones who invest our lives in it, we band together and make it the best possible city it can fuckin’ be! Whether that be creating amazing art spaces for the community, working towards a greener Toronto, escalating guerilla urban planning1, anything! Let’s make this the best possible city, despite Ford. 2) 2014 is coming soon. Who do we want to run our city. We have three million possible contenders. We need to figure out who that person is, and convince them they want the… Read More »Mayor Staypuft

Why Joey Trousers is getting my vote…

This is a pretty bad election for Toronto. We’re faced with three name candidates. A city councillor from Etobicoke who has been making Council a living hell for those who try to make legislation; the former Deputy Premier of Ontario, who as Minister of Health fucked up beyond belief; and the Deputy Mayor. During this campaign, all three candidates are looking backwards, rather than forwards. Not a single one of them is providing a vision for Toronto, their campaigns are focused on Mayor David Miller, not Toronto. While Ford and Smitherman’s campaigns are about how Miller did everything wrong, Pantalone’s campaign has been to say that David Miller did no… Read More »Why Joey Trousers is getting my vote…

October Crisis

On October 5, 1970, the Front de libération du Québec kidnapped British Trade Commissioner James Cross. On October 10 Pierre Laporte, Quebec’s Minister of Labour was kidnapped. Three days later, this historic interview takes place. Three days later, Trudeau invokes the War Measures Act. A man who is perhaps Canada’s most left-leaning Prime Minister displaces social liberties for security. As a nation, we mostly accept and applaud this. Why was this different than when Harper displaced civil liberties for the G20? How did this change Canada? How did this change Quebec? What did we, as a nation, learn from this crisis? Was the P. Dog1 right? Thoughts? Pierre Trudeau. [↩]